Reality, remembrance, and response : the presence and absence of God in the psalms of lament.

This study explores
the ways
in which
Israel understood Yahweh to be present
by focusing on
those psalms of
lament which report
that God is silent, absent, or hidden
and which present him with memories of his presence
to save.
The study begins by examining
the use of memory recitals of Yahweh's creation,
the exodus experience of
Israel, and
the personal experiences of
the writer as the primary
resources
for approaching God in the psalms of
lament. Special attention
is given to the
tension created by the psalmist between the present experience of God's absence and
memories of his presence
to save. This is then followed by a survey of current writings on
God's presence and absence.
Next, the study explores
issues in Psalms
research which relate to the theme of
God's presence and absence as
it is expressed
in the Psalms. Attention is given
to the
problem of speaking of God acting
in human history and
to the debate
over whether the
Psalms have their origin and use primarily
in the cultic setting or
in the private
lives of
the community. Also, various understandings of
the experiences of presence and absence
are considered.
This is followed by an exegetical study of seven psalms, with particular attention
being given
to the tension between experienced absence and remembered presence, the
move
from lament to praise, and
the response
to God's salvation of offering testimony
before the great assembly.
The final part of
the study explores
the psalmist's use of experiences of reality,
memory,
testimony, and story as a means of approaching God in the silence
in light of the
preceding exegetical study.